xcel
09-09-2006, 12:54 AM
The Focus wagon is one of the roomiest and most practical vehicles on the list. (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA090906.01J.williams.green.53662d.html)
G. Chambers Williams III - San Antonio Express - Sept. 08, 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2002_Ford_Focus_Wagon.jpg
PZEV equipped Ford Focus Wagon - EPA rated 27/37 w/ a stick - one of largest Green Car highlights.
It used to be that "green car" meant just that - a car that is painted green.
And for a few years, about 20 years ago, green was the most popular car color.
Today, "green" has a whole new meaning when it comes to cars, and it has nothing to do with the vehicle's exterior color.
To consumers, the "green" designation means a combination of good fuel economy and a minimum of polluting emissions, according to a new study by the automotive marketing research firm J.D. Power and Associates.
Power has just released a list of the top 30 environmentally friendly vehicles for 2006, based on the company's 2006 Alternative Powertrain Study. And surprisingly, not all of the vehicles on the list are gasoline-electric hybrids, although those vehicles - hailed by many environmentally conscious folks as being Earth-friendly - are well-represented on the list.
Eight of the 30 vehicles on the list are hybrids: the Ford Escape and its clone, the Mercury Mariner; the Honda Accord, Civic and Insight; the Toyota Prius and Highlander; and the Lexus RX 400h, which has the same basic architecture as the Highlander hybrid.
That leaves 22 vehicles on the "green" list that aren't hybrids, and among these, a variety of manufacturers is represented.
These traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, whose fuel economy and tailpipe emissions qualify them as green even though they are not hybrids, are: the Acura RSX; Chevrolet Aveo and Cobalt; Ford Focus sedan and wagon; Honda Accord and Civic; Hyundai Accent and Elantra; Kia Rio and Spectra; Mazda 3 and MX-5 Miata; Nissan Sentra; Saturn Ion; Scion xA; Suzuki Reno; Toyota Camry and Corolla; and the Volkswagen Golf (now known as the Rabbit for 2007), Jetta and New Beetle.
While the study covers just 2006 models for now, some 2007 models probably would make the list, including the new Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid SUV and the new minicars from Japan: the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.
Also surprising is that 15 of the 37 automotive brands on sale in the United States are represented in the study, which shows - to me, at least - that automakers are doing a good job when it comes to offering environmentally friendly vehicles to American consumers.
To create the list of the top 30 green cars, the Alternative Powertrain Study "combines U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publicly available information with voice-of-the-customer data related to fuel economy, air pollution and greenhouse gases for 2006 model-year vehicles."
"Voice-of-the-customer data is also used to help determine the relative importance of these environmental factors," Power said in a release announcing the results. "The fuel economy factor represents approximately 50 percent of the index, while air pollution and greenhouse gases contribute to the remainder."
Fuel economy ranks most important because the less fuel a vehicle burns, the more environmentally friendly it is.
"High gas prices, coupled with consumers becoming more familiar with alternative powertrain technology, are definitely increasing consumer interest in hybrids and flexible fuels," Mike Marshall, J.D. Power's director of emerging automotive technologies, said in announcing the study's results. "However, the additional price premiums associated with hybrid vehicles, which can run from $3,000 to $10,000 more than a comparable non-hybrid vehicle, remain the biggest concern among consumers considering a hybrid."
The top 30 list shows that consumers really don't have to pay the extra money for a hybrid just to get a car with good fuel economy and an environmentally friendly nature.
The greenest vehicle on the list is the 2006 Honda Insight, but it's also the one with the least consumer appeal.
The Insight has the best fuel-economy ratings of any four-wheel vehicle on the market, up to 70 miles per gallon, but it's quite odd-looking, and it seats only two people. And there is not much room for their luggage should they want to take a trip.
The first hybrid on the market in the United States when it was introduced in February 2000, the Insight costs just over $20,000. And because it is such a slow seller, Honda is discontinuing it after this year.
The consumer favorite among the hybrids, based on a combination of fuel economy, price and practicality, is the Toyota Prius. With fuel-economy ratings just over 50 mpg and a price starting as low as $22,000, the five-passenger, midsize Prius hatchback is affordable and practical.
In the sport utility ranks, all of the models on the market for 2006 are good buys in their respective segments. But the most affordable is the Ford Escape, which carries a premium of about $2,000 over the price of a similarly equipped gasoline-only Escape, yet it gets about 25 percent better mileage. You can buy one for about $26,000, then get a tax credit from the federal government of up to $2,600 to help offset the cost.
Better buys overall, though, would be the non-hybrid cars on the top 30 list, all of which have fuel-economy ratings in the mid- to upper-30s. And they're not boring, sardine-can econoboxes, either. In fact, many are quite roomy, and some are really a blast to drive.
In the fun category are models such as the Mazda 3 and MX-5. The Mazda 3 is a compact sport sedan that runs from $14,000 to just under $20,000 and is way more fun to drive than a car in this class and price range ought to be.
The MX-5, of course, is a two-seat convertible sports car that's not quite as practical as the five-passenger Mazda 3, but it's great on gas and one of the more appealing cars on the market.
The Acura RSX also is great fun, and with a starting price of just under $21,000 for this premium brand, it's also quite a bargain.
Roomy, affordable and practical, and even somewhat fun to drive, are compact sedans such as the compact Chevrolet Cobalt, Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, Saturn Ion, Ford Focus, Kia Spectra, Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta.
These are roomy enough for a small family and have starting price tags well below $20,000. Some of them also are available in hatchback models.
Fun and affordable small hatchbacks on the list are the Volkswagen Golf and New Beetle (one of my favorites), and the Scion xA.
The Focus wagon is one of the roomiest and most practical vehicles on the list, especially for those who have kids and stuff to haul around.
The subcompacts on the top 30 list are the least expensive models and, in general, have the best fuel economy. They are the Chevrolet Aveo, Hyundai Accent, Suzuki Reno and Kia Rio.
The only midsize sedan on the list is the 2006 Toyota Camry, which, by the way, also is the nation's best-selling car and has been every year but one since 1997. The Camry has been completely redesigned for 2007, but its "green" qualities continue.
The four-cylinder Camry is the model on the top 30 list, not the V-6. The Camry hybrid model did not appear on the list because it is a 2007 model.
Power noted in its announcement that hybrid SUVs were the only truck models among the top 30 and that only two luxury-brand models - the RX400h and RSX - made the list.
Although no diesel models showed up in the top 30, Power noted "several diesel models from Volkswagen also perform well, which is reflected in VW's strong overall nameplate performance."
Power said the study, which took into account consumer perceptions about hybrids, diesels and flexible-fuel vehicles, "finds that fewer than one-fourth of consumers say they will only consider a gasoline-powered model for their next new vehicle."
"Among consumers who expect to acquire a new vehicle within the next two years, 57 percent indicate that they are considering a hybrid vehicle, while 49 percent are considering a flexible fuel (E85 ethanol-based fuel blend) vehicle and 12 percent a diesel," Power said.
Consumers considering hybrids expect to pay about $5,250 more for the hybrid system, Power said.
Read more about the green-car rankings and the Power study at www.jdpower.com.
G. Chambers Williams III - San Antonio Express - Sept. 08, 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2002_Ford_Focus_Wagon.jpg
PZEV equipped Ford Focus Wagon - EPA rated 27/37 w/ a stick - one of largest Green Car highlights.
It used to be that "green car" meant just that - a car that is painted green.
And for a few years, about 20 years ago, green was the most popular car color.
Today, "green" has a whole new meaning when it comes to cars, and it has nothing to do with the vehicle's exterior color.
To consumers, the "green" designation means a combination of good fuel economy and a minimum of polluting emissions, according to a new study by the automotive marketing research firm J.D. Power and Associates.
Power has just released a list of the top 30 environmentally friendly vehicles for 2006, based on the company's 2006 Alternative Powertrain Study. And surprisingly, not all of the vehicles on the list are gasoline-electric hybrids, although those vehicles - hailed by many environmentally conscious folks as being Earth-friendly - are well-represented on the list.
Eight of the 30 vehicles on the list are hybrids: the Ford Escape and its clone, the Mercury Mariner; the Honda Accord, Civic and Insight; the Toyota Prius and Highlander; and the Lexus RX 400h, which has the same basic architecture as the Highlander hybrid.
That leaves 22 vehicles on the "green" list that aren't hybrids, and among these, a variety of manufacturers is represented.
These traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, whose fuel economy and tailpipe emissions qualify them as green even though they are not hybrids, are: the Acura RSX; Chevrolet Aveo and Cobalt; Ford Focus sedan and wagon; Honda Accord and Civic; Hyundai Accent and Elantra; Kia Rio and Spectra; Mazda 3 and MX-5 Miata; Nissan Sentra; Saturn Ion; Scion xA; Suzuki Reno; Toyota Camry and Corolla; and the Volkswagen Golf (now known as the Rabbit for 2007), Jetta and New Beetle.
While the study covers just 2006 models for now, some 2007 models probably would make the list, including the new Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid SUV and the new minicars from Japan: the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.
Also surprising is that 15 of the 37 automotive brands on sale in the United States are represented in the study, which shows - to me, at least - that automakers are doing a good job when it comes to offering environmentally friendly vehicles to American consumers.
To create the list of the top 30 green cars, the Alternative Powertrain Study "combines U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publicly available information with voice-of-the-customer data related to fuel economy, air pollution and greenhouse gases for 2006 model-year vehicles."
"Voice-of-the-customer data is also used to help determine the relative importance of these environmental factors," Power said in a release announcing the results. "The fuel economy factor represents approximately 50 percent of the index, while air pollution and greenhouse gases contribute to the remainder."
Fuel economy ranks most important because the less fuel a vehicle burns, the more environmentally friendly it is.
"High gas prices, coupled with consumers becoming more familiar with alternative powertrain technology, are definitely increasing consumer interest in hybrids and flexible fuels," Mike Marshall, J.D. Power's director of emerging automotive technologies, said in announcing the study's results. "However, the additional price premiums associated with hybrid vehicles, which can run from $3,000 to $10,000 more than a comparable non-hybrid vehicle, remain the biggest concern among consumers considering a hybrid."
The top 30 list shows that consumers really don't have to pay the extra money for a hybrid just to get a car with good fuel economy and an environmentally friendly nature.
The greenest vehicle on the list is the 2006 Honda Insight, but it's also the one with the least consumer appeal.
The Insight has the best fuel-economy ratings of any four-wheel vehicle on the market, up to 70 miles per gallon, but it's quite odd-looking, and it seats only two people. And there is not much room for their luggage should they want to take a trip.
The first hybrid on the market in the United States when it was introduced in February 2000, the Insight costs just over $20,000. And because it is such a slow seller, Honda is discontinuing it after this year.
The consumer favorite among the hybrids, based on a combination of fuel economy, price and practicality, is the Toyota Prius. With fuel-economy ratings just over 50 mpg and a price starting as low as $22,000, the five-passenger, midsize Prius hatchback is affordable and practical.
In the sport utility ranks, all of the models on the market for 2006 are good buys in their respective segments. But the most affordable is the Ford Escape, which carries a premium of about $2,000 over the price of a similarly equipped gasoline-only Escape, yet it gets about 25 percent better mileage. You can buy one for about $26,000, then get a tax credit from the federal government of up to $2,600 to help offset the cost.
Better buys overall, though, would be the non-hybrid cars on the top 30 list, all of which have fuel-economy ratings in the mid- to upper-30s. And they're not boring, sardine-can econoboxes, either. In fact, many are quite roomy, and some are really a blast to drive.
In the fun category are models such as the Mazda 3 and MX-5. The Mazda 3 is a compact sport sedan that runs from $14,000 to just under $20,000 and is way more fun to drive than a car in this class and price range ought to be.
The MX-5, of course, is a two-seat convertible sports car that's not quite as practical as the five-passenger Mazda 3, but it's great on gas and one of the more appealing cars on the market.
The Acura RSX also is great fun, and with a starting price of just under $21,000 for this premium brand, it's also quite a bargain.
Roomy, affordable and practical, and even somewhat fun to drive, are compact sedans such as the compact Chevrolet Cobalt, Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, Saturn Ion, Ford Focus, Kia Spectra, Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta.
These are roomy enough for a small family and have starting price tags well below $20,000. Some of them also are available in hatchback models.
Fun and affordable small hatchbacks on the list are the Volkswagen Golf and New Beetle (one of my favorites), and the Scion xA.
The Focus wagon is one of the roomiest and most practical vehicles on the list, especially for those who have kids and stuff to haul around.
The subcompacts on the top 30 list are the least expensive models and, in general, have the best fuel economy. They are the Chevrolet Aveo, Hyundai Accent, Suzuki Reno and Kia Rio.
The only midsize sedan on the list is the 2006 Toyota Camry, which, by the way, also is the nation's best-selling car and has been every year but one since 1997. The Camry has been completely redesigned for 2007, but its "green" qualities continue.
The four-cylinder Camry is the model on the top 30 list, not the V-6. The Camry hybrid model did not appear on the list because it is a 2007 model.
Power noted in its announcement that hybrid SUVs were the only truck models among the top 30 and that only two luxury-brand models - the RX400h and RSX - made the list.
Although no diesel models showed up in the top 30, Power noted "several diesel models from Volkswagen also perform well, which is reflected in VW's strong overall nameplate performance."
Power said the study, which took into account consumer perceptions about hybrids, diesels and flexible-fuel vehicles, "finds that fewer than one-fourth of consumers say they will only consider a gasoline-powered model for their next new vehicle."
"Among consumers who expect to acquire a new vehicle within the next two years, 57 percent indicate that they are considering a hybrid vehicle, while 49 percent are considering a flexible fuel (E85 ethanol-based fuel blend) vehicle and 12 percent a diesel," Power said.
Consumers considering hybrids expect to pay about $5,250 more for the hybrid system, Power said.
Read more about the green-car rankings and the Power study at www.jdpower.com.